Machine for stuffing cushions and the like



Jan. 29, 1924.

(:QH. BAER MACHINE FOR STUFF 'ING CUSHIONS AND THE LIKE Filed June 1 INVENTOR. CHARLES H EmER AYToaNEy Patented Jan. 29, 1924.

nrrso srArEs PATENT cr tics.

onaatnsn. Benn, or sen FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOB or THIRTY-THREE AND ONE-THIRD PER cam: roaarnon L. HOLMES, orsim rnancrsoo, cam- FORNIA.

Application jiled June 1,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. BAER, a citizen of the United States, and a resi-. dent of the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have made a new and useful invention, to wit, Improvements in Machines for Stuffing Cushions and the like; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, concise, and exact description of the same. I

' The principal object of this invention is to provide a new and improved apparatus for stuffing pillows, mattresses and the like.

An object of my invention is to provide a container for the pillow and mattress stufler content having a capacity that can be understood that the invention is not lim-' ited to such form, because it may be embodied in other forms, and it is also to be understood that in and by the claims following the description it is desired tocover the invention in whatsoever form it may be embodied.

In the accompanying one sheet of draw- I ings,

in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1.

Fig.3 is an end elevation of the machine partly broken away.

Fig. 4 is a section of the machine taken through Fig. 1, on the line IV-IV.

In detail the construction illustrated in the drawings includes the rectangular main frame 1 formed from suitable steel angle bars, and having the supporting legs 2, 3, 4 and 5 at each of the corners. The open ended stufiing container 6 is slidably mounted on one end of the frame and comprises a pair of telescoping members 7 and 8 with Fig.1 is a plan of a machine constructed the annular shoes 38 and 39 thereon slidably MACHINE FOR STUFFIIIG CUSHIONS AND THE LIKE.

1920. Serial no. 385,587.

the covers 9 and '10 hinged thereon. The sections 7 and 8 are each provided with depending brackets 11 and 12, threaded for engagement respectively with the right and left hand'threaded portions of the shaft 14 that has its ends mounted in bearings'15 and 16 secured on opposite sides of the frame 1. One end of the shaft has the friction discs 20 and 21 securely mounted thereon, the purpose of'which will hereinafter be more fully described in detail. The shaft 14 is positioned substantially midway between the open ends of the stuffing container (i/for the purpose properly balancing the same for equally distributing the stresses of adjustment on the respective, telescoping sections. The underside of the lower most telescoping member 8 is provided with an elongated shoe 17 projecting outwardly from its under side and has an integral face member 18 adapted to slidably contact with the top face of the end member of the frame 1. The rear portions of the telescoping members 7 nd 8 are supported on a cross rod 19 having its ends secured in the side members.

The partition wall 22 is on the frame 1 contiguous to the rear open end of the container 6. The spaced guide rods 23 and 24 have their ends 25 and 26, respectively, fixed in the cross plate 22 and their opposite ends mounted in supporting securely mounted stufiing pusher 32 isfmounted within the stuffing container 6 and has plunger rods 33and 34 secured on the rear face thereof and extending through suitable guides 35 and 36, mounted in the partition 22, and terminating in the cross head 37, that has 41 and 42 thereon. A similar depending bracket 43 is providedon the under face of r the end member 30. The shaft 44 is securely mounted between the depending extensions 40 and 43 and has an annular slide shoe 45thereon provided with a disc like collar 46, extending circumferentially there I around, and the adjusting cable 47 passing therethrough. The adjusting cable 47 has an end secured to the rear face of the plunger 32, its opposite end passes through the partition member 22 around the rollers 41 and 42 and to the disc plate 46 where'it is fastened. The adjusting cable is provided with projections 48, at various interspaced points which are adapted to be moved into and from engagement with the disc 46 for the purpose of regulating the stroke of the stutter pusher relative to the stuffer container, as will be hereinafter described in detail. The cross shaft 49 is 'mounted transversely on the bed frame 1 on opposite sides in the adjustable bearings 50 and 51 and has the sprocket wheel 52 securely mounted thereon substantially in the center of the frame 1. The sprocket chain 53 engages the sprocket wheel 52 and passes around the aligned sprocket wheel 54 freely rotatable on'the cross shaft 55 transversely mounted on thebed frame 1 and secured in the bearings 56 and 57. The end of the shaft 55 is provided witha beveled gear 75 shaft 14.

V For swinging the friction disc 80 into and from engagement with the complementary discs 20 and 2]., I provide a bearing 82 mounted on the frame 1 and having an extension 83, slotted, within which the shaft end79is slidably guided. A control member 84, pivoted to hearing 82 at 84, is drilled to permit the shaft 77 to pass therethrough. Thus, by moving the handle 84 radially the shaft end 79 is moved laterally within the slotted member 83 and the friction disc 80' placed into and from engagement with either of the friction discs 20 or 21.

The sprocket wheel 54 has an annular drum collar 58 integrally formed on one side "thereof. A clutch arm 59 is pivoted intermediate its ends within the drum collar 58 so that an end thereof will project from within said drum collar and thus pl'ace the other end of said arm out 'of, contact with the shaft on which the sprocket wheel 54 is mounted. The contact end of the clutch arm 59 is normally adapted to be maintained out of frictional contact with the cross-shaft 55 and is moved into rotatable engagement therewith by engagement of the projecting end of the clutch arm 59 with the'cone clutchmember 1 ,esapee 60 slidably mounted on said shaft- 55, and

operated by the forked member 61 securely positioned on the shaft 62. The shaft .62 extends longitudinally between the respective ends of the frame 1 and is mounted'in bearings formed therein; Power is applied to the cross shaft 55 by a worm wheel 64 keyed or secured thereon in any suitable manner and operated by the worm 65 and motor 66 as shown. The sprocket chain 53 is mounted on the respective sprocket wheels 52 and 54 substantially on the central axis of the bed frame 1 and is provided with an outwardly extending lug 70. The lug acts as follows Rotative power applied to the cross shaft 55 causes the sprocket chain to move in the direction of the arrow (.1. and the said lug 70 to move into engagement with the cross arm 37 forcing it forward on the guide rods 23 and '24 and thus forcing the containerplunger 32 forward. The stuffer pusher in its forward movement pulls the adjusting cable along with it causing the adjusting disc 46 to slide on the rod 44 synchronously with the movement of the arm 37. When the arm 37 reaches the end of its stroke the lug 70 on the sprocket chain 53 disengages therefrom and continues around the sprocket wheel 52, engaging the projecting disc 46, forcing it rearwardly in direction of the arrow 5, thus drawing the plunger rearwardly within the container 6 to the rear end of the box placing the cross arm 37 in its normal starting position to be en-' gaged by the arm 70.

This machine is operated substantially in the following manner: The hinged covers on the respectivetelescoping containers 7 and 8 are swung radially on their pivots to the vertical. positions indicated by the dotted line in Fig. 3, and each of the said elements 7 and 8 adjusted laterally on the bed frame to their widest capacity. Cushionor mattress stuffer content in its loose form is then placed within the stuffer container and the hinged gates closed down thereupon. The stuffing in the container will not permit the gates to close completely making it necessary for the operator to force the stufiing downward by pressing on the outside of the hinged gates locking them in the closed position by a suitable arm 80 having an end 81 thereof swivelly mounted in the bed frame 1. This locking member serves to hold the stuffing in its compressed position by maintaining the doors closedbut allowing the telescoping sections 7 and 8 of the container to he moved laterally either toward or from each other relative to the frame 1. .After the gates of the stuffer container 1 have been closed and locked in normal operating position the shifter member 84 pivotally mounted on the bearing 83 and 84 and controlling the drive shaft 77 is moved radially friction disc 80 into contact with thedisc (ill '20, keyed to the right and left hand screw shaft 14, thus advancing the telescoping parts 7 and 8 of the container 1 toward each other. The pivoted shifter member 84 is operated by the foot-pedal rotatably mounted on the pivot 93 mounted in the cross arm 94 that is secured to the leg members 2 and v3,-

in the following manner. The pedal 93 is provided with flattened ends 95 and 96 upon which the foot of the operator is adapted to be placed. By pressing either of the ends 95 or 96 downward, the arm 97 rigidly secured to the end of the shaft 93 moves radially either downward or upward movingthe arm 98 inuunison therewith, and

rotating the arm 99 fixed on the shaft 100 mounted in the bearings 101 and 102 to move the rod 103 connecting rod 104, pivotally joined to the shifter member 84 either inwardly or outwardly to engage or disengage. the disc 80 from the companion discs 20 and 21. I do not wish to confine myself to this particular construction of shifting arrangement of the disc drive, inasmuch as it would be clearly within the purview of this invention to employ an equivalent-of mechanisms for the same purpose The telescoping action described compresses the stuffericontent within the container to any desired hardness or capacity after which the friction disc80 is disengaged from the friction disc 20. A cushion or mattress cover 90 l is then placed around the open discharge end of the stuffer container 5st as to completely enclose the same. The friction'disc 80 by movement of the control 84 is then moved into contact with the opposite friction disc 21, thereby rotating the shaft 14-confrariwise) to move the telescoping sections 7 and 8 away from each other to tightly confine the cushion or mattress cover around the container 6 when the expanding action of the sections 7 and 8 released.

For the purpose of automatically disengaging the friction drive disc 80 from the discs 20 and 21, each of the telescoping sections 7 and 8 of the container are provided with projecting arms 107 and 108 that are adapted to strike the pivoted arm 84 concontrolling the movement of the friction disc 80. The arm 107 is secured on the underface of the member 7 and strikes the control member 84 to disengage the friction driving members when the telescoping container is adjusted to the smallest capacity position, whereas the projecting arm 108 on the member 8 strikes an extension 109 formed on the member 84 to disengage the driving mechanism when. the telescoping container is moved to its widest expanded position.

In adjusting the width and capacity of the telescoping container it is onlynecessary for the operator to press down either foot pedal 95 or 96, thus throwing-the driving disc 80 into frictional engagement witheither of the respective discs 20 or 21 to expand or contract the width of the container and the telescoping action is automatically stopped by either of the projecing arms 107 and 108striking the control member 84 disengaging the frictional driving mechanism.

To operate the pusher the operator steps on the pivoted foot pedal 91 connected to an extended arm 92 rigidly mounted on the longitudinal shaft 62 causing it to swing radially, synchronously with a radial movement of the lever 61 slidably connected to the cone clutch member that forces said cone face into frictional contact with a clutch arm 59 pivotally mounted in the hub housing 58 provided on the sprocket 54. The frictional engagement between the cone 60 and arm 59 permits the members to revolve with the driven shaft 55 supplied with rotative power by the wormwheel or other appropriate means. The rotative movement imparted to the sprocket wheel 54 starts the sprocket chain 53 in motion in the direction of the arrow a and movesthe extended lug on said sprocket chaininto frictional contact with the rear face of the sliding cross arm 37,

slidably guided on the rods 23 and 24 and connected with the stuffer pusher 32' rigidly by the rods 33 and 34.

Forward motion of the cross arm 37 forces if the plunger 32 toward the discharge end of the stuifer container 6, thus forcing all the stufling confined therein into the cushion or mattress cover enclosing the discharge end and gradually filling 1t forcing taway from said container until the plunger 32 reaches The end of the cushion the end of its stroke. or mattress cover is then sewed or finished in any desired manner. The lug 7O stays in contact with the cross arm 37 for the full length of the forward stroke when it disengages therefrom in continuing around the sprocket 52 and engages the projecting disc 46 having stuifer plunger, withdrawing cable 47 secured thereto. The lug 70 on its return stroke in the direction of the arrow 5 forces the disc 46 and slide shoe 45 rear- -wardly and thus withdraws the plunger 32 within the container 5 to the closed or rear end of the stuffer box. The lug 70 upon reaching the end of its return stroke disengages from contact with the disc 46 and continues around the sprocket 54 until it strikes the extended arm fixed on the shaft 62 which the arm 95 is caused to swing radially in a reversed direction to disengage the coneclutch 60 from the arm 59 thereby discon-- llll Thelength of stroke of the .stufi'er pusher 32-is regulated by adjustingthe positions of the inter-spaced projections on the cable 2t? relative to the disc 46. Undervnormal'operating 'conditions'the plunger 32 would move,

the full length of :the interior of the stufi'er container-5 by having the first projection or nodule on the cable, in :contradistinction to the nodule-on'the' end of the cable, placed in engagement with the disc 46; as shown in full lines in Fig. 1. Power applied to the sprocket chain advances the plunger 32011 the forward stroke by the lug 7O strikingthe cross bar 37, and is drawn on the return stroke by the said lug 70' engaging the face of the disc 46, after which the said lug continues into'contact with the controlarm 95 for disengaging the clutch 60 from the sprocket'54. If it'is necessary that the plunger should have a limited stroke by reason of the different sizes, shares and'capach ties of cushions and mattresses that are to be stuffed, adjustment is made by lengthen-- ing the cable connecting the sliding disc 46 and plunger 32. If for the sake of'illustra-' enedcable in-with the shortened cable, the

only diife'rence beingthat the plunger would justment and long plunger stroke. Thead ditional length of returning cable over the distance between centers of driving sprockets determines the amount of forward or rearward vmovement of the stuffer plunger 32. Y

Having thus described this invention, what I claim: and desire to secure by Letters Patent is r 1. Aidevice such as described comprising an open-ended container; a plunger within said container; an endless belt for sliding said plunger forwardly and rearwardly withinsaid container during one complete cycle of operation of said endless belt; meanssecured to said plunger and actuated by-the belt for adjustably regulating the stroke ofthe plunger. 7

2. A device such as described comprising an open-ended container; a plunger within said container; an endless belt adjacent said plunger and means onsaid plunger for engaging said endless belt and to move said plunger forwardly and rearwardly and to disengage therefrom at a predetermined point on the rearward stroke, the part of said means causing rearward movementbeing adjustable for regulating the length i of the forward stroke of said plunger.

In testimony'whereof; Ihave hereuntoset my hand at San Francisco; California this 31st day of April, 1920.

In presence of LINCOLN JoHNsoN.

GHARLESH. BAER. j 

